Investigation of the relationship between sensory processing skills and sleep in 12–36 month-old children with screen exposure

In this study, the relationship between screen exposure and sensory processing skills and sleep patterns in children aged 12 to 36 months was examined. The sample of the research consisted of parents with children in the 12–36-month age range, selected using the snowball sampling method. According to the results of the power analysis, a total of 148 children were included in the study, with 74 comprising Group 1 and 74 forming Group 2. Data were collected using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ), the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile-2 (ITSP-2), and a sociodemographic information form. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software. The findings revealed that the mothers of children in Group 1 were generally older and had lower levels of education, which was associated with increased screen time. Children in Group 1 had significantly higher screen time than those in Group 2, and the devices most commonly used were televisions and mobile devices. The sleep patterns and sleep quality of the children in Group 1 were found to be considerably lower compared to those in Group 2. Furthermore, significant differences were observed between screen exposure and factors such as sleep routine, time to fall asleep, and overall sleep regulation. These results suggest that excessive screen exposure during early childhood may have negative impacts on children's sensory processing abilities and sleep patterns. Based on these findings, screen time should be limited during early childhood; families should be educated about healthy media use; and structured guidance should be provided, particularly for children at risk of sensory processing difficulties.